As in past posts, it was suggested that when trying to decide, it might be more practical to visit a range where they rent a variety of handguns. That way, you won't find yourself locked into a purchase that she may not be entirely happy with.

Myself, I thought learning the basics with a revolver was productive in helping me understand sight alignment and get over the anxiety of recoil. When I got into competitive shooting, air pistol and centerfire gave me a well-rounded overview of what types of grips were suited for me.